Improvement in can-openers



llfntell ,tes-*trs VAly-FRED G. PLATT, OF SANDUSKY, GHIO.

Lette/rs Patent No.' 106,723, del-ted August 23, 1870.`

IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.-

The Schedule referred. to in these Letters Ptcnt and making part ofthe same To all whom 'it may concern.' g

Be it Aknown that I, ALFRED C, PLATT, of Sandusky, in the county of Erie and in the Stat-e of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Opener; and do hereby declare tliattlie following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to ille letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The extent tovwhich goods of various kinds are now hermetically sealed in tin cans has created an urgent need for some convenient instrument for opening them. All devices heretofore constructed for'this purpose are found to be either entirely im practicable or very inconvenient, so much so as to prohibit their introduction, and consumers are left to resort io the old methods of opening cans, sometimes by unsoldering them, piling hotcoals upon the end, and blowing upontheinuntil their faces are scorched andred; sometimes by chopping into them with a hatchet, to thedanger of spattering their contents over surrounding objects; sometimes by plunging a huge knife into the can, and with ditiicnlty working it about until an orificeismade large enough for the exit of the goods, and sometimes by other ways equally as awkward and inconvenient.

lhe herein-described instrument entirely obviates the disadvantageof other devices for this purpose,and

renders the operation of opening cans simpleand easy, so that a child can perform it hence,

The Ynature of my invention consists in the. construction and arrangement of the various parts constituting my can-opener, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of my can-opener 5 llignre 2 is a side view of the adjustable center-spur Figure 3 is a side view of the cut-ting mechanism and Y l1`igure4 is al1 end view of the same.

A represents the handle, to the end of which the metal frame-B is iirmly secured. This frame is formed of abar, one end of which is inserted in the handle A, and then bent toward the right, is shown in tig. l.

To this portion of the frame or bar the cuttingplate C and cutting-.wheel l) are attached.

l'he cutting-plaie() is formedat itsonter cnd with a. spur or point, a, and on its under inner side \vith a hooked cutting-spur, b.

"l he bar is then turned or bent toward the left for a. suitable distance, and this portion is dattened and pwviued with a longitudinal slot, e, in which the point or center spur E is secured by the thumb-nut G.

The bar'B'is then turned in-a semicireular shape toward the handle, curved in\\'nrd, aml then secured to the end ofthe handle, as'shown.

lo use the instrument, the spur or point -a is placed upon'the can ncartlze outer-edge, and crowded through, or, if the tin is thick, a gentle stroke wit-h the palm of the hand upon the curved portion of the frame B, (at Z,) forces it through the tin. It is then brought do'wn toward thc rounding edge of the spur, which enlarges the slot, andv leaves it in shape to admit the hooked cutting-spul' b.

lhis spur is then hooked into the slot, and the point E is forced through the can, where it happens to fall, in the direction of the center by pressing upon the thumb-nut G, when, by pulling upon the handle and pressing with Vthe thunb against the curved portion d ofthe bar B, the tin is easily out ont.

For diierent'sized openings, the point E is made adjustable in its proximity to the cutting apparatus, by 'sliding in the slot e on the bar B, and is held in place by the set-screw or nut G. A ling upon the under side of the said nut tits into notchesl or corrugations on the upper side of the bar, which prevents slipping.

The cutting-plate C is set with the front end a a `little outside ot a line tangent with the cutting-point,

horizontally, whichleaves the back part of the cuttingspur free, and it does not crowd against the edge of the tin outside ot' the cut. The cutting-plate is also set from a vertical line inward, at an angle .of about forty-ve degrees. lVith this inclination, the tin, as it is cut, is readily separated, one part passing easily np4 over the hookor spur b, while the other is pressed down beneath it, and the strong force which would be required to press the. tin away edgewise or laterally, it' the shears were vertical, is saved.

Another advantage ofthis inclination is, the cutting-- wheel l) is continually crowded in close contact with the cutting-spur b; hence, if, by wear, it becomes loose, it will be by its position keptin close .cont-act with the spur, and cut equally well.

'llhe lriction caused by the inclination also tends to keep the cutting-edges sharp. The cutting-spur and wheel, especially the wheel, are beveled about equal to their inclination. \Vhen not greater than this, the, whole breadth of the edge ot' the cutting-wheel is crowded upon the surface of the tin, increasing the friction, and causing it to revolve, and thereby augments the ease o1 cutting. A

rIhe instrument can be used without the wheel,simply with a notch in a plate, or by two plates fastened with their lace sides together, so as to form a cuttingnotch, but xnnch more torce would be required.

'lhe handle A is placed in front of the cutting apparatus, so that the line ofdralt will be iu advance, and

not above the blade, as in other instruments, which prevents it from tipping forward and slipping out, o'r otherwise interfering with its cuttilu,r easily. This line ot'drai't also prevents all tendency of the instrument to twist in the hand, andthereby renders the cutting easier.

The spur o is for the purpose ot' making an incision in the can, to receive the cutting-hook I1. It is upon the end ot' the cutting-plate G, and made hooking upon one edge, and rounding upon the other, in order that, when inserted,-by prying down upon the rounding side the tiu is raised up in front ot' the spur, and opened, convenient to receive the cutting-hook I).

The advantages ot' this hooking-cutter or vspur are obvious. Instead ot'requiring great torce to press on and cut through the tin, besides slipping' out frequently and splashing the contents, as with blades ot' ordi4 nary construction for this purpose, it draws the instrument into amlretains it in cutting position, so that simply pulling upon thc handle cuts out the tin with case.

The central point E set pointed or hooking back, or in an opposite direction from the cutting-spur b, in order that, as the. cutting force is applied, it will draw into the can, and prevent slipping,r out. This'inclination, in combination with the opposite one ot the cutting-spur b, hugs the instrument to the can, and no care. is required to keep it in position.

The thumb-nut G is made large, t'or the purpose ot' more easily and securely tightening the spur, and forming a surface to press upon with the thumb or hand, to force the spur through.A

The semicircular portion fof the bar or frame B rests upon the can beyond the cut. This stcadies the instrument, hugged down as it'is by the cutting apparatus, and prevents the disk of tin, when partially ont, from dipping into the can and splashing the contents. The curved portion ll strengthens the instrument, and serves to rest the thumb against when cut-ting, ami to strike upon when forcing the spur athrough thick tin.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The cutting-plate C, set in an inclined position, and provided with the spur or pointaand the hooked cutting-spur b, constructed and operating snbstantiall y as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In combination with the cutting-plate G,t-hecut ting-wheeiD, both constructed and arranged-to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3' The bar or frame B, constructed as described, with slot e, semicircular part f, and curved part d, all

constructed substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A can-opener, having the handle placed in advance ofthe cuttingr apparatus,substantially as herein set forth.

5. The combination of. the handle A, bar B, cuttingplatc C, cutting-wheel D, and central .spur or point E, all constructed and arranged as described, to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein sett'orth. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set myhand this 25th day of May, 1870.

ALFRED C. PLATT.

Witnesses:

F. M. QOLVER, Nronoms BUYER. 

